New to Yachting, What do i need to do

[gregandginas]

Great news: hope you find a home for her soon, and that the whole family goes on to have stacks of fun onboard.

 

[Ubergeekian]

I really fancy giving this a go, i want something i can sail single handed which can accomodate two adults and two kids.

My contribution to add to the others. Given free and worth every penny.
Buying a boat to learn in is a great way of doing things. Sailing your own boat is always more rewarding, and if there's something you don't like, or find awkward, you can always change it - clearly you have the experience and craft skills to do this.
I would suggest a dinghy course of a week or so first, so you know more or less how everything works. After that, just choose a nice day (your definition of "nice" will broaden with experience) and take the thing out. Sailing really isn't a terribly complicated business! When you want to know more stuff, find someone experience who'll come with you and show you.
There is a vast industry designed to part you from your money by making learning to sail as slow, qualification obsessed and expensive as possible. For people who like taking lessons, doing exams and getting certificates that's just fine, but many of us learned to sail by pottering around.
I don't know Sonatas very well - I have only sailed in one once, when a friend with one asked me to teach her some night sailing - but I'd heed those who say they can be twitchy. Not as twitchy a dinghy, mind you, so if you fancy learning in something fast and fun, why not?
Good luck!

 

[Gwylan]

Me, I've been about the most scared on Windermere ever. Lakes are places with odd wind and difficult conditions.


As with most others here I'd suggest getting some experience, at other people's expense, before you put the money on the table.

Do a dinghy sailing course, that way you learn the basics and learn if you like being cold and wet and paying for it!

Understand that the cost of entry decides the level of comfort and predicts your ongoing expenditure.

Try a flotilla holiday with the family - but use a reputable firm, where you will learn a lot. Especially if it works for you.

Do a shore based course in navigation in the winter.

You theoretically need to do the VHF course to be legal and safe with a VHF radio.

Do not assume that the RNLI will get to you if things go T.U.

 

[cumbrian]

well done for the bullet biting - direct approach always best.

if you want info on moorings on windermere, firstpoint of call is the lake wardens - very helpful and easy going.. try Lake.Wardens@southlakeland.gov.uk

and don't be put off by the winter!

 

[puddock]

can i not just buy a boat and hire someone to teach me to sail it ? sounds a bloody sight easier to me.

Thats basically what we did (33ft Westerly Storm). We haven't regretted it. I would say one of the secrets is to get a down to earth instructor who will show you how to get the most out of your boat - enjoyment, not performance. Then after that, get out at every opportunity and sail - there is no substitute.

 

[planteater]

I would suggest the following... DONT BUY ANY BOAT UNTIL THE FOLLWING STEPS HAVE BEEN COMPLETED

1) Summer 1; Learn to sail..... This is best accomplished on a dingy... the basic principles are the same no matter the size. There will be lots of local dingy sailing courses available to you. If you want in the end to be sailing with your kids or wife... then get them along as well... As well as learning to sail you will have a great time!

2) Take the RYA Dayskipper Theory during the course of a winter (1 evening a week) at your local college.

3) Summer 2; Maybe a bit more dingy sailing if your not fully up to speed.. but take the RYA Competent crew course... More Dingy sailing...
Make friends here and go along on some of their bigger boats to get a feel for things.

4) Summer 3; RYA Day skipper course practical. Flotilla holiday with family in Greece/ other med destination.

5) Winter 3; RYA Coastal Skipper Theory winter course. Xmas or January Charter/ Flotilla in the BVI's

6) Summer 4; Charter in the UK.

7) Summer 5; Charter in the UK

Personally, I skipped the dinghy bit and condensed Competent Crew -> Coastal Skipper into two summers with the theory courses being done online during the winters. Remember to set a couple of weekends aside for Sea Survival and VHF courses.

 

[Refueler]

Hi all.

Firstly let me state my position. I have had a 6 berth river/canal cruiser that i built from a GRP shell and then went on to cruise in her for the next 4 yrs until i sold her. I have always fancied trying my hand at sailing a Yacht, but i'm having tremendous difficulty finding info for an absolute beginner as i know no-one who sails yachts and i've never even set foot on one, so hopefully there's plenty of them folks here who can answer my dim questions, we all have to start somewhere.

I really fancy giving this a go, i want something i can sail single handed which can accomodate two adults and two kids. I have seen a 23' Hunter Sonata in my price range that seems pretty sorted, are these ok ? bearing in mind i have no idea what a Genoa is ? i think its a some kind of sail....the brokerage says its ready to go with everything needed to go to sea.

I thought about having it put on Windermere for a few yrs until the kids are older then going to sea in it, is this a good idea ? or not....

I have also heard about the RYA Dayskipper course, i need this to go to sea right ? do i need this to sail on windermere too ?

i have already spoken to a few marina's in different places and got prices for mooring fees for said boat so thats not a problem.

Thanks.

Easiest way to answer most above is to do a weekend Crew course with a Sailing School. That'll give a foundation to build on. Let's be honest for decades people have bought all sorts of boats who hadn't set foot on one before .... very few suffered serious consequences except a big dent in wallet as they went up in boats !

My biggest suggestion ? Go join a Club - forget marinas - they are lonely places with little benefit for a new person to boating. A club though will as long as you are a friendly easy sort of person give not only chance to sail and learn .. but also social, dinghy for kids etc. etc. Many also have RYA instructors for various learning curve stuff.

No doubt there will be "expert" advice ... TBH - take a lot of it with a pinch of proverbial.

 

[Refueler]

i plan on spending 5 K. not alot in comparison to alot of the pictures i have seen on this site. but its suitable to my budget and i know i can get a something i think is decent for that amount.

I plan on (even long term) doing coastal cruising. I also know the SWMBO is quite an adventurous type who loves doing anything to do with water. she is as keen as me i'd like to add.

from the past posts its quite obvious we need to get out on someone's yacht.

or join a club....any offers from members ?


two people prepared to crew for a weekend know nothing about sailing but will do anything as asked within reason.

Sonato and similar are cruiser racers and lively for a start boat ... suggest something a bit heavier such as a Snapdragon, Macwester, Trident, Mirage etc. They will look after you if you get into a pickle ... same money.

 

[gandy]

You could take a week's hire from these people, say in the Moody 28. No prior sailing experience required, especially if you're comfortable handling a motor boat. See how you like the sailing side of things (leaning over etc).

http://www.westhighlandsailing.com/sailing-yachts.html

 

[David_Jersey]

Well i have finally gritted my teeth and bit the bullet and bought myself a westerley 22 ft Cirrus. she needs a bloody good clean and a lick of varnish here and there but she seems really sound. a few bits and bobs need replacing, mainly bits of door and bits of rear deck floor,

Good stuff Never been aboard one, but I think a good choice for a first boat as shouldn't scare the Missus / Kids / You as you all start your learning curves - whilst still providing plenty of fun . and some creature comforts

FWIW I think a good move on getting your own boat - not to say not also a good idea to sail with others (whether professional or with (new) mates, on your boat and / or theirs).......but a fundamental difference between being skipper and crew (no matter how competent / experianced the latter is) and you only get to learn being skipper from practice.

 

[Ubergeekian]

Well i have finally gritted my teeth and bit the bullet and bought myself a westerley 22 ft Cirrus. she needs a bloody good clean and a lick of varnish here and there but she seems really sound. a few bits and bobs need replacing, mainly bits of door and bits of rear deck floor,

Good choice. Sailing performance isn't going to be stunning - I have the same rig on a 21' boat less than half the weight - but those Westerlies are very well and solidly made. I strongly suggest you join the Westerly Owner's Association - lots of experience and technical help available.

 

[JasonClark]

Thanks for all your comments so far, we have found a guy a neighbor of my father actually, who has had a yacht on windermere for many years and he has offered to help. so things are looking up.

 

[Babylon]

Thanks for all your comments so far, we have found a guy a neighbor of my father actually, who has had a yacht on windermere for many years and he has offered to help. so things are looking up.

Funny thing that. I've always found that once you decide to do something, two things ensue: firstly you put in focussed research, and secondly you tell people what you're doing - SUDDENLY all sorts of connections and opportunities appear!

Well done for buying the boat, and wish you great enjoyment with her.

Babylon

 

[JasonClark]

Just have a couple of dumb questions for you good people.

1. The boats been standing in a boatyard for what looks to be an age, however the gelcoat underneath said filth is in really good condition, i have a feeling she will look very impressive when cleaned up but in her present state she is really dirty, so whats the best thing to scrub it with ?

2. The rigging is absolutley filthy and covered in algae, am i best off replacing the whole lot (money is tight after boat purchase ) or is there something that can be done i.e scrub it up with something?

3. relating to above question, the lines that do need replacing/cleaning, am i best just taking them off and replacing them one by one then i can see where they supposed to go (time consuming) or should i take the whole lot off ? therfore will someone be able to just re rig the whole boat as it seems like there is rope, shackles, pulleys and wheels absolutley all over the place and quite frankly looks very confusing and intimidating to say the least.

Thanks, Jason

 

[cumbrian]

if only we had the time and money

she will look very impressive when cleaned up but in her present state she is really dirty, so whats the best thing to scrub it with ?

2. The rigging is absolutley filthy and covered in algae, am i best off replacing the whole lot

3. relating to above question, the lines that do need replacing/cleaning, am i best just taking them off and replacing them one by one then i can see where they supposed to go (time consuming) or should i take the whole lot off

don't go taking everything off, nothing is likely to snap and by the time you have puzzled out what goes back where the summer will be over - and boats don't sink from having green hulls - just ignore the sneers from the owners of spanking new boats. if you want to sail -get sailing!

can your boat go on the water? if so.... ignore all the dayskipper type stuff for now, there's plenty of time in the winter to read about what flares you need 12 miles offshore and what lights a grounded tanker will be showing at night.

concentrate on knowing the basic practical stuff well - get one or two THIN, concise books about points of sail, tacking and gybing, speeding up and slowing down, how not to hit oncoming boats, simple knots., tying off to a cleat

if you want a spin on a small boat on windermere pm me. i'm no teacher and no expert but am about one year on from you in the same process.

 

[Refueler]

Just have a couple of dumb questions for you good people.

1. The boats been standing in a boatyard for what looks to be an age, however the gelcoat underneath said filth is in really good condition, i have a feeling she will look very impressive when cleaned up but in her present state she is really dirty, so whats the best thing to scrub it with ?

2. The rigging is absolutley filthy and covered in algae, am i best off replacing the whole lot (money is tight after boat purchase ) or is there something that can be done i.e scrub it up with something?

3. relating to above question, the lines that do need replacing/cleaning, am i best just taking them off and replacing them one by one then i can see where they supposed to go (time consuming) or should i take the whole lot off ? therfore will someone be able to just re rig the whole boat as it seems like there is rope, shackles, pulleys and wheels absolutley all over the place and quite frankly looks very confusing and intimidating to say the least.

Thanks, Jason

Hull .... toilet cleaner will take of near every stain and is cheap .... ignore calls to buy expensive chandler boat cleaners ! They are basically same stuff.

Rigging ... if green I take it you mean ropes ? You could take light line and attach to rope end ... pull out old rope leaving light line in place for later putting rope back. Coil rope and fix with ties - bung in washing machine at 40C and small amount of powder ... forget the pillow case advice .. ties keep rope easy to uncoil after. hang to dry naturally.

Rest of boat is general cleaners and scrubbing brushes ...

If you clean a boat to look nice - then pride takes hold, sail a dirty boat and you'll always feel it ...

 

[JasonClark]

Ok thanks for that.

Thanks for that offer Cumbrian i will take you up on that. PM incoming....

There is no way i'm moving the Yacht just yet till i am totally satisfied with the way it looks, as where it is ,is only twenty mins away.

Here's the Jobs that i am doing for any of you that may be interested. (i am an engineer by trade so fortunatly i have pretty good know how to do everything myself, and i've fully refit a 23ft cabin cruiser out from a grp shell a few yrs back, i just dont understand all this rigging YET !!)

Windows removing and Replacing Perspex and sand down and revarnish the frames (there hardwood) so will look pretty darn smart when complete.

Cockpit floor Replacing in Hardwood 3 inch wide planks all varnished up, should look smart when completed (this job is half done)

New Door in half inch ply all varnished up.

Rebuild Tiller and revarnish (this has been completed)

A Bloody good scrub then repaint the parts of the deck that have already been done with Interdeck, this is going to be fiddly as there all sorts of triangles and rectangle shape patches to mask up.

rigging and fixtures needs a good clean i.e ropes pulleys shackles cleats etc

And thats all she needs doing to her i reckon to really smarten her up. doesnt need touching inside at all, the SWMBO says she is gonna make some new curtains .....you know what there like

 

[aquaplane]

I second what has been said about the WOA, well worth joining. The WOA web forum has some good info but the Yahoo Group has more. It's a good idea to spend some time reading some of the posts as much of what you are doing will have been done by someone else and you can learn from that.

If you end up on Windermere, which is a good place for a Lancastrian, it's a good place to learn but can be scary for a learner at times. The wind can go from zero to hero in 10 seconds, usually with a 40° wind shift, and it takes a few times to realise that the mast will stay attached, and the boat will stop going over and come back upright, usually anyway. You soon learn to stow things properly.

If you fancy a trip out on Windermere on a Centaur, give us a shout, just helping someone else sail their boat can be educational. I've never sailed a Cirrus and wouldn't mind a day sail on one if someone needed to be "shown the ropes", not that I'm an instructor.

Have fun, see you around.

 

[JasonClark]

I second what has been said about the WOA, well worth joining. The WOA web forum has some good info but the Yahoo Group has more. It's a good idea to spend some time reading some of the posts as much of what you are doing will have been done by someone else and you can learn from that.

If you end up on Windermere, which is a good place for a Lancastrian, it's a good place to learn but can be scary for a learner at times. The wind can go from zero to hero in 10 seconds, usually with a 40° wind shift, and it takes a few times to realise that the mast will stay attached, and the boat will stop going over and come back upright, usually anyway. You soon learn to stow things properly.

If you fancy a trip out on Windermere on a Centaur, give us a shout, just helping someone else sail their boat can be educational. I've never sailed a Cirrus and wouldn't mind a day sail on one if someone needed to be "shown the ropes", not that I'm an instructor.

Have fun, see you around.

I'll defo take you up on that ! thanks for that. i need as much instruction as i can get. i'll of course treat you to a few beers and a lunch out somewhere come the time. I have been in touch with the lake wardens and i will be sending my mooring application forms off later today. so hopefully it wont be long.

For anyone thats interested, Cockpit deck is finished, i built it in a beautiful hardwood finished with satin international yacht varnish. foto's coming as soon as boat is scrubbed.

Building new door way boards today in marine ply....off i go got work to do...

 

[boatmike]

can i not just buy a boat and hire someone to teach me to sail it ? sounds a bloody sight easier to me.

Unfortunately you can in this country. Think about it though.... Would you drive a car without having proper lessons and passing your test first? Would you put your wife and children in it and set off exposing them and every other road user to your incompetence? If you are a sensible chap the answer is no. There is much more to learn than just how to handle the boat and learning by your mistakes can be dangerous in the extreme.
IMHO if on a budget the best investment would be to join a club and get crewing for others. If you want to "fast track" then go to a sailing school and spend a few weeks getting taught the basics on their boat rather than your own. You would find this cheaper than hiring an instructor on a one to one basis on your own boat anyway and avoids the cost of buying a boat at all until you understand what you want. Then do an RYA course and at least become competent crew.
Once you have done this you will know the difference between a Sonata and a bathtub and know what kind of boat you want rather than waste money on something inappropriate now. Frankly a raw beginner in a Sonata is like a 12 year old in a Ferrari with the additional risk of drowning and it's not a boat to learn on or to take young children on unless you are experienced. Get some experience and training first and then buy a boat. Much safer, cheaper in the long run and it's good fun that way anyway. When you have learned the basics and have a degree of experience you can skipper your own first boat with pride and enjoy the experience, rather than putting youl life and others at risk and hanging your head in shame every time you cock up in front of the whole world, including your own family. Many wives have been put off sailing by husbands who frighten them unnecessarily due to inexperience

p.s. you will still cock up aftertraining... we all do sometimes, but not hopefully with catastrophic results.....